The city's operations committee voted Monday to lower the speed limit along a section of MR80 in the Valley.
The decision comes after the roads department received a petition signed by 37 people who wanted speeds along the busy roadway reduced to 60 km/h from 80 km/h in the area from Yorkshire Drive to Dominion Drive.
“In this area, MR80 has an average annual daily traffic volume of approximately 15,500,” a staff report on the matter says. “The speed limit on MR80 is 80 km/h from approximately 60 metres south of Yorkshire Drive to St. Mary Boulevard and is 60 km/h from St. Mary Boulevard to the Hanmer Mall.”
A speed study in that area of MR80 was conducted in June 2014 about 200 metres north of Yorkshire Drive and recorded the speeds of more than 31,000 vehicles. The average speed was 82 km/h. According to guidelines the city uses to determine speed limits for municipal roadways, the speed limit for that area should be 70 km/h.
The report recommended extending the 60 km limit to Yorkshire Drive and starting the 70 km limit at Yorkshire until St. Mary Boulevard.
But Ward 6 Coun. Rene Lapierre, whose ward includes that area of the Valley, said he's heard from a lot of residents on the issue, but only three were in favour.
A lot of people are worried that lowering the speed limit will mean it takes them longer to travel to and from work, and make area a less attractive place to live.
“So I'm kind of torn,” Lapierre said. “Why would we change a speed limit for a petition of 37 people?
“And I'm not sure the 37 people actually represent the 15,000 people that actually use the road day in, day out … I can't support this.”
Roads director David Shelsted said city staff receive a lot of petitions and are obligated to investigate whether what's being asked for is a legitimate concern.
So staff conducted a technical review of the speed limit and found according to guidelines, the limit should should be 70 km/h in that area.
Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan said the city could be taking a risk if their own review called for a lower limit. While it may not be a popular decision, he said councillors should be cautious before ignoring staff advice.
“Politically, it's not matter of how much people use it or what people want,” he said.
And Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac said it's a similar situation to one she faced in her ward along MR15. People were afraid to walk in the area because of the speeds, and it was reduced to 60 from 80 km/h.
“The security of residents, that was the issue,” Dustrisac said.
But she wondered if lowering the speed limit would actually slow drivers down.
“If it's 60, do people go 60 or do they go 80?”
Shelsted said its the characteristics of a roadway that determines speed – drivers adjust depending on design and other factors.
“People drive to their comfort level,” he said.
Infrastructure GM Tony Cecutti said staff is trying to strike a balance between meeting the needs of pedestrians and allowing people to get to and from work in a reasonable time.
“We don't take this lightly,” Cecutti said.
Lapierre was the only no vote when the change was approved, although it won't be official until it's approved by city council.
